Kakababu
| Kakababu & Sontu | |
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Kakababu is a fiction character created by Bengali author Sunil Gangopadhyay, that has become legendary in Indian children's literature. The series, falling under adventure genre of literature, targeted at children and teenagers, started in the autumn of 1971 with the publication of Bhoyonkor Sundor in Anandamela magazine, puja number. Since then, the series has been continued for over 32 years on popular demand, with over 35 adventure novels in print. The publishers of most of Kakababu adventure books are Ananda Publishers, based in Kolkata, India.
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[edit] Main characters
Kakababu: a crippled ex-Director of the Archaeological Survey of India, whose real name is Raja Roychowdhury. He lost one leg in a jeep accident on the Himalayas, several years ago, and walks with the help of a crutch. This however has not crippled his strong mental will and physical strength. He is much sought after by the Indian intelligence to solve critical cases of crime. He has been trapped and captured by enemies on several occasions, but escaped unhurt, or nominally hurt. In solving cases of crime, he has traveled to several parts of India and the world. Each new adventure takes him to a new destination. His age is estimated to be over 60 at present.
Shantu: (also spelled as Shontu) the only college-going nephew of Kakababu, and the companion to all Kakababu adventures. This young adult has sharp wit and intelligence, and his mental strength is only comparable to Kakababu. He has also been trapped on several occasions by ruthless enemies.
Jojo: friend of Shantu and equals his age. He was introduced as a character to give comic relief, resulting from his habit of telling lies, often in a sarcastic manner.
Debolina: another friend of Shantu, and seemingly his only female friend. She has got involved in some of the Kakababu adventures.
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Momota Banerjee in SOBUJ DWIPER RAJA
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Kakababu in a fight sequence
[edit] Adventures of Kakababu Sontu
- 1971 Bhoyonkor Sundor
- 1978 Sobuj Dwiper Raja
- 1980 Paharchuray Aatonko
- 1981 Bhupal Rohosyo
- 1983 Khali Jahajer Rohosyo
- 1984 Mishor Rohosyo
- 1985 Kolkatar Jongole
- 1986 Nilmurti Rohosyo & Jongoler Modhye Ek Hotel
- 1987 Jongolgorer Chaabi & Rajbarir Rohosyo
- 1988 Bijoynogorer Hire
- 1989 Kakababu O Bozrolama
- 1990 Ulka Rohosyo & Mohakaler Likhon
- 1991 Kakababu Here Gelen?
- 1992 Sontu O Ektukro Chaand
- 1993 Aagun Pakhir Rohosyo
- 1994 Kakababu Bonam Chorashikari
- 1995 Sontu Kothay Kakababu Kothay
- 1996 Kakababur Prothom Obhijan
- 1997 Jojo Odrishyo
- 1998 Kakababu O Chondon Dosyu
- 1999 Kakababu O Ek Chhoddobeshi
- 2000 Kakababu O Shishuchorer Dol
- 2001 Kakababu O Moronfaad
- 2002 Kakababu O Black panther
- 2003 Kakababu O Aaschorjo Dwip
- 2004 Kakababu O Sinduk Rohosyo
- 2005 Kakababu O Ekti Sada Ghora
- 2006 Ebar Kakababur Protisodh
- 2007 Kakababur Chokhe Jol
- 2008 Kakababu aar Bagher Golpo
- 2009 Aagneyogirir Peter Modhye
- 2010 Aarobdeshe Sontu Kakababu
- 2011 Kakababu O Jalodassu
[edit] Comics and films/ Telefilms
Comics:
- Bhoyonkor Sundor (published by Ananda Publishers), art by Bijon Karmakar
Films:
- Sabuj Dwiper Raja (1979)Directed by Sri Tapan Sinha
- Kakababu Here Gelen? (1996)Directed by Pinaki Chaudhuri
- Ek Tukro Chand (2003)Directed by Pinaki Caudhuri
In the first movie Kakababu was played by Shamit Bhanjo and Santu was played by Arunavo Adhikari. In the rest movies Kakababu was played by Sabyasachi Chakraborty who also played the same character in TV Serial. Santu was played by respectively Arghyo Chakrabarty and Sohom Chakrabarty. In the last film Jojo was played by Arijit Sengupto. All the above films are produced under the finance of Government. Sabuj Dweeper Raja and Ek Tukro Chand ware produced by Children Film Society and Kakababu Here Gelen? was produced by N.F.D.C.
TV Adaptations
- Khali Jahajer Rahasya(1999)Directed by Surojit Sengupto aired on Durodarshan as a 13 episodes TV Series. Kakababu was played by Sabyasachi Chakraborty as usual. Santu was played by Bijoyesh Chakrabarty and Biman was played by Tota Roy Chaudhuri.
- Kakababu o Ek Chadmabeshi(2001)Directed by Joy Mukherjee aired on ETV Bangla. Kakababu was played by Arjun Chakrabarty and Santu was played by Sumon Banerjee.
- Kakababu Firey Elen (2008–09) Based on the Novel KOLKATAR JONGOLEY (A DD BANGLA PRESENTATION) Screenplay Devised and Directed by Subrata Das, Screenplay- Aditi Mazumder, Anuja Chattopadhyay and Subrata Das. (Cast: Sudip Mukherjee as Kakababu, Debsankar Haldar as Rajkumar, Saheb Bhattacharya as Santu, Nabonita Dey as Debolina, Taranga Sarkar as Jojo, Arnab Bhadra as Biman AND Rajatava Datta as Mr. Mallick)
Kakababu-Sontu in Ruposhi Bangla
October'2010 onwards RUPOSHI BANGLA channel has started SONTU-KAKABABU as animation series first time ever in Bangla Entertainment. Animated avatar of Kakababu & Sontu visited Mishor (MISHOR ROHOSYO) to solve a mystery related to a mummy hidden below a pyramid. Then they went to Kashmir (MISSION KASHMIR aka BHOYONKOR SUNDOR) in the search of the lost head of King Konishko's statue. Later on they headed towards Andaman to solve the famous mystery of SOBUJ DWIP .In this adventure both chief minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya and Rail Minister Mamata Banerjee was seen in their animation avatar. In January 2011 Kakababu solved the mystery of Kein Shipton and a group of mysterious Yeti(PAHARCHURAY AATONKO) and then he went to Africa to solve the case of some missing persons from a particular hotel (BHOYONKOR AFRICA aka JONGOLER MODHYE EK HOTEL). In March'2011, Sontu's friend Jojo is introduced in the adventure BIJOYNOGORER HIRE but then in April'2011, when Kakababu faced Bozrolama (BOZROLAMA ROHOSYO) he takes only Sontu with him. After Bozrolama, he will confront Chondondossu in a dense forest of Kornatok (CHONDONDOSSUR MUKHOMUKHI) and the illustration of Chondondossu reminds us none but notorious Mr Veerappan.
Channel RUPOSHI BANGLA telecasts SONTU-KAKABABU ANIMATION SERIAL every Sunday at 9.30am. And A COMPLETE KAKABABU-SONTU ANIMATION MOVIE on EVERY SUNDAY at 11.30am.
RELEASE DATE OF KAKABABU-SONTU ANIMATION ADVENTURE
- October’2010 Mishor Rohosyo
- November’2010 Mission Kashmir
- December’2010 Sobuj Dwiper Raja
- January’2011 Paharchuray Atonko
- February’2011 Bhoyonkor Africa
- March’2011 Bijoynogorer Heere
- April’2011 Bozrolama Rohosyo
- May’2011 Chondondosyur Mukhomukhi
[edit] Criticism
Jojo's character has been often criticised for the mindless comedy it tries to produce. It is all-in-all a weak character and exposes the weakness of the author. Many of the plots have been criticised as cliché and very similar to each other, centering around someone from the Kakababu team getting kidnapped by the enemies, while chasing them; and the others of the team rescuing them, and overpowering the enemies. Though one of the biggest assetts of Bengali Literature, the stories of Kakababu has faltered from its usual charm, thrill as well as fame in the recent past years.
